Senate Committee Testimony Calls for More Coverage of Massage

The U.S. Senate Health, Employment, Labor & Pensions Committee (HELP) recently heard testimony from Dr. Halena Gazelka, Director of Inpatient Pain Services at the Mayo Clinic, on the importance of massage therapy and why insurance should cover it, as an alternative to opioids for pain. AMTA’s representative was at the hearing as the association continues conversations with legislators and federal agencies about massage therapy for pain. AMTA also provided the committee with a written statement on the efficacy of massage for various types of pain and pushed for full inclusion of massage in all guidelines to help overcome the opioid crisis.

Cindy Steinberg, National Director of Policy and Advocacy for the U.S. Pain Foundation, also spoke to the importance of massage therapy as an effective part of integrative pain treatment, during her testimony on the opioids crisis.